New Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service for Nepean

Planning and design has begun for a new 10-bed child and adolescent mental health unit on the Nepean Hospital campus.

Announced by Minister for Mental Health, Bronnie Taylor, the new unit will be co-designed with young people and carers to create a patient-centred service.

Last week the first focus group session was held.

Manager Mental Health Capital Works, Bethany Pade says the focus group provided a platform for young people to express their opinions on what the system does well and where it could improve when it comes to working with young people experiencing mental health challenges.

“We want to deliver the right modes of care and support. By involving consumers early in the design process we can get it right the first time and deliver a therapeutic environment that supports the recovery of young people and their families.”

This latest commitment to co-design further strengthens NBMLHD’s position as a leader delivering quality mental health services for the community.

Earlier this year in a NSW first, the District signed a Mental Health Consumer and Carer Council Charter to give the voices of consumers and carers the same weight as professional staff to help design and improve service delivery.

The new child and adolescent mental health facility is part of the $700 million State Wide Mental Health Infrastructure Program to support the delivery of mental health care reform in NSW.

The NSW Government’s $2.1 billion recurrent investment in the 2019-20 budget for mental health services focuses on improving the lives of people living with mental illness by delivering better care in hospital and improving support for them, their families and carers.